Randalstown Somme memorial events

There wasn’t a town in Ireland that did not receive telegrams during the Battle of the Somme to tell of the sacrifice made by brave Irishmen.

Randalstown Royal British Legion research has so far shown that 20 men from the Randalstown district gave their lives on that first day.

The local branch is determined that the over 80 men from the Randalstown community who fell in this war will not be forgotten.

There will be an Act of Remembrance at the town’s Memorial Garden at 7.30am on July 1.

Then on July 2, from 1pm, there will be an open air concert by the Northern Ireland Concert Band at Neillsbrook Playing Fields followed by a Royal British Legion parade to the fields for a muster to attend an interfaith Drumhead Service.

After the Service, the parade will move off to the Memorial Garden where there will be an Act of Remembrance and a wreath laying by the Lord Lieutenant for County Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie OBE.

Randalstown Branch hopes that the whole community will come along.